Safety razor magazine



Jan. 23, 1968 R. L. PERRY SAFETY RAZOR MAGAZINE 3 Sheets$heet 1 FiledFeb. 27, 1967 R. L. PERRY Jan. 23, 1968 SAFETY RAZOR MAGAZINE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1967 FIG 3A FIG 38 Jan. 23, 1968 R. LPERRY SAFETY RAZOR MAGAZINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb 27, 1967 FIG? FIG6 United States Patent 0 3,364,570 SAFETY RAZQR MAGAZINE Roger LesliePerry, Lynniield Center, Mass., assignor to The Gillette Company,Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No.618,794 14 Ciairns. (Cl. 30-63) ABSTRACT 9F THE DTSCLOSURE A safetyrazor magazine that houses a razor blade band has a shaving platform forsupporting a shaving length of blade band. The magazine includes awiping surface immediately below the blade support platform and a recessbelow that wiping surface. An overlying vertical guide channel isdisposed on each side of the recess. A movable blade guard structure hasa bar positioned in front of the shaving platform, and extendingdownwardly from the guard bar is a body portion which includes a wipingsurface that engage the wiping surface on the magazine to provide a sealbetween the shaving zone and the blade supply cavity. The side walls ofthe body portion are received in the guide channels of the magazinerecess so that the guard is aligned and guided for vertical movementrelative to the blade support platform while the engaged wiping surfacesmaintain the barrier between the shaving zone and the blade supplycavity. An adjusting disk, mounted for rotation on the recessed portionof the magazine, includes a spiral cam groove which engages a stud onthe guard bar body portion so that rotation of the adjusting diskproduces vertical movement, over a range of approximately 0.025 inch, ofthe guard relative to the blade support platform.

This invention relates to safety razors of the type that employ acontinuous ribbon-like blade in an arrangement in which successivelengths of the blade may be sequentially advanced into shaving positionby the user, and more particularly to a blade magazine construction foruse in such razors which incorporates an arrangement allowing adjustmentof the shaving geometry of the razor.

It is frequently desirable to provide a construction in a safety razorwhich enables the user to adjust the shaving geometry (the relationshipbetween the sharpened edge of the razor blade as exposed in the bladeholder with respect to the shaving guard and/or the clamping cap) tosuit his individual preferences and/or shaving requirements. A number ofunique problems arise in connection with a ribbon type razorconstruction however. For example, as the major components that affectshaving geometry are part of the replaceable componentthe magazine-theproduction cost of the adjustable feature to the extent that it isincorporated in the replaceable component must be minimized in order tobe economically competitive. The adjustment should be easy to make andpermit a wide range of shaving geometries while not creating anypotentially hazardous condition for the user.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel andimproved ribbon-type razor blade magazine structure which providesadjustable and yet precise shaving geometry configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedshaving geometry adjustment arrangement in a ribbon type razor blademagazine which is easy and safe to use and which permits adjustment ofthe shaving geometry over a wide range of values.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improvedribbon type razor blade magazine construction incorporating a shavinggeometry adjustment arrangement that is economically adaptable to highvolume production techniques, both in the manufacture of the magazinecomponents and in the assembly of those components into a magazine unit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a compact magazineconstruction of adjustable shaving geometry configuration that iscompatible with commercially available magazine holders.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a ribbon razor blademagazine having a shaving geometry adjustment arrangement for use in arazor construction that employs a holder member adapted to removablyreceive the magazine. A continuous ribbon like razor blade that includesseveral shaving portions in series is housed in the magazine. Themagazine includes structure that defines a blade supply position, ablade take up position, and a blade path that extends between the supplyposition and the take up position. The structure defining the blade pathincludes a blade support platform which defines a shaving zone forreceiving and supporting a shaving length of blade in shaving position.The magazine structure includes a blade guard structure that is movablerelative to the support platform in a direction perpendicular to theblade support platform. The blade guard structure extends in generallyparallel, spaced relation to and is disposed forwardly of and downwardlyfrom the blade support platform and includes a guide surface thatcooperates with a guide surface of the platform structure forcontrolling the direction of relative movement of the guard and platformin a shaving geometry adjustment operation.

Preferably, secured to the platform portion of the magazine is anadjusting mechanism which cooperates in engaging relation with the bladeguard portion for moving the blade guard relative to the blade platformso that the shaving geometry parameters of tangent angle, span and.exposure of the razor are readily adjusted in coordinated relation.

Shaving razor structures constructed in accordance with the inventionare compatible with commercially available magazine holders. Theinvention permits adjustment of the shaving geometry over a wide rangeof values in an arrangement which is compact, easy to operate withprecision and certainty, relatively inexpensixe to manufacture, andcompatible for manufacture with high volume production techniques.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen asthe following description of particular embodiments thereof progressesin conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of components of a safety razorholder and magazine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View of an assembly of the safety razor magazinecomponents shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3A and B are enlarged sectional views showing a range ofadjustment of the shaving geometry produced with the magazineconstruction shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second form of adjustablemagazine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the cover element and the adjusting member ofthe magazine construction shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of an assembly of the magazinec omponenlsshown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are a front view and a side sectional View,respectively, of another safety razor magazine constructed in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are front and side views (the latter in partialsection), respectively, of portions of a magazine and holderconstruction in still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURES 11-13 are diagrammatic views of still other structures forproducing relative motion between the blade platform component and theblade guard component of the magazine.

There is shown in FIGURE 1 a holder structure of the type disclosed inthe Nisscn Patent No. 3,262,198 adapted to receive a blade magazine 12.The magazine structure 12 includes a back member 1- and a cover member iwhich is secured to the back member by tabs 13, 2% of the snap type. Itis preferred that the components of the magazine structure bemanufactured of a suitable moldable organic plastic capable of beingsubjected to repeated deformation stresses such as an acetyl plasticsold under the name Delrin.

The back member 14 includes a generally planar base 22 having anupstanding cylindrical wall 24 located intermediate the ends of thebase. This cylindrical wall 24 delines a cylindrical supply chamberwhich receives a coil of shaving blade 26. Adjacent one end of the baseis formed an upstanding planar blade support platform 28 having a bladesupport surface that extends generally perpendicular to the plane of thebase 22. Adjacent the other end of the base 22 is a circular aperture 30adapted to rotatably receive an arbor 32 that has a slot therein toreceive one end of blade 26.

Blade 26 extends from the supply chamber defined by wall 24 along a pathof the general configuration indicated in FIGURE 1 over a guide surface34 formed at one end of blade platform 28, along the blade supportplatform to a second guide surface 36 formed the opposite end ofplatform 28 and then to take up arbor 32. The blade element 26 in thisembodiment is a strip of stainless steel 0.0015" in thickness and 0.1895in width having a sharpened front edge 40 and an unsharpened rear edge42.

Formed at the rear of the blade support platform 28 at either endthereof is a vertical pad 44 the surface of w1hich provides a guide forthe rear edge 42 for the ribbon blade 26. Disposed above the bladesupport platform and extending forward over the platform are a series offour spaced tabs 46 which act as guides contributing to the definitionof the path of the blade 26 through the shaving zone defined by theblade support platform 28. Below the blade support platform is a wipingsurface 48 having a guide aperture 50 therein.

The cover 16 includes a convex side guide surface 60 for guiding theblade strip from supply chamber 24 to shaving zone end guide surface 34and a complementary convex side guide surface 62 for guiding the bladefrom the shaving zone end guide 35 to the take up arbor 32. The frontwall of the cover includes a recessed portion 64 having at either sidethereof overlying vertical guide channels 66 which receive a blade guardbar carrying structure 68. These guide channels 66 are inclinedrearwardly at a slight angle with respect to wiping surface 48.

This guard carrying structure has a body portion 70 from the front faceof which projects stub 72. A scale indicating the setting of themagazine geometry is molded on the face of body 70 and a correspondingseries of latching surfaces 73 are aligned with the scale. At the top ofthe body is formed a rigid blade guard bar 74 that extends the length ofthe shaving zone defined by platform 28. The body 78 includes a rearsurface '71 which engages wiping surface 48 to provide a barrier or sealbetween the shaving zone and the blade supply cavity 24 (as indicated inFIG. 3). Slots, as defined by spacer tabs 76 provided between guard bar74 and the rear surface of body 70, allow release of soap and/or waterwhich might accumulate during shaving. The center tab 76 projects beyondthe rear wall 71 and is arranged to enter and cooperate with slot 50 toprovide guidance for vertical movement of the guard structure 68. Thisguard structure is received in the channels 66 in the cover 16 and whencover 16 is assembled to back 14, guide channels 66 force surface 7 1into firm wiping engagement with surface 48 to maintain the barrierbetween the shaving zone and the blade supply cavity. Also, center tab'76 is positioned in slot 50 so that the guard is aligned with andguided for vertical movement relative to platform 28.

Cover 15 also includes a circular aperture 819 adapted to receive stud81 of adjusting disc 82 for rotation therein. Disc 82 has, on itsperiphery a knurled surface 83 and on its rear surface, a spiral camgroove 84 which engages stud 72 for producing vertical movement of guard74 relative to the edge of blade 26 in the shaving zone in response torotation of disc 82.

An indicator bar 8 5 includes a central projection 37 adapted to bepositioned in the control aperture 88 in disc 82 and an indicatorprojection 89 at one end. The span between projections 87 and 89 is suchthat bar 86 may be secured firmly in a desired angular position byengagement of projection 89 with knurled surface 83. After the magazineis assembled, it is positioned in a jig and set to normal shavinggeometry by rotation of disc 82. Indicator bar is then snapped in placeat the vertical position (pointing to the center of the scale on theface of guard structure 68). In this position latch surface 75 on therear of indicator bar 86 engages one of the series of surfaces 73 in alatching and shaving geometry stabilizing function.

Arbor 32 has a stub shaft 90 on which is positioned an indicator disc 92having gear teeth 94 in its outer periphery and a series of numbers 96on its face. This indicator disc cooperates with gear teeth (not shown)formed in the rear of cover 16 which are arranged so that a completerevolution of arbor 32 produces a fraction of a rotation of disc 92 sothat a disc number indicative of the number of shaving blade used isvisible through aperture 98 in the face of cover 16.

The assembled magazine structure with a length of blade therein isadapted to be positioned in holder 10 which includes a head 182 having aforwardly projecting lip 104 adapted to engage the blade 26 and hold itfirmly in position on shaving platform 28. Slots 106 in head 102 receivehold down tabs 46. Holder has a handle 110 carrying a latch structure112 for securing magazine in position so that drive shaft 114 (rotatableby lever 116) engages arbor 32 and lip 104 clamps blade 26 in shavingposition on platform 23. A sectional view of the magazine 12 positionedin holder 11 is shown in FIGURE 2.

An enlarged view of the shaving geometry configuration of this magazineis indicated in FIGURE 3A and an adjusted position is shown in FIGURE3B. Shaving geometry involves a set of interrelated dimensions whichinclude the distance E that the sharpened edge 40 of blade 26 projectsin a distance perpendicular to line 120 (which extends between the tipof lip 104 and the tangent surface of guard bar 74), herein termedexposure; the tangent angle A between line 122 (the plane of blade 26)and line 124 (a line tangent to the surface of guard 74 and thesharpened edge 40 of blade 26); and span, the distance S between thesharpened edge 40 of blade 26 and the tangent point on the surface ofguard 74 as indicated by lines 126 and 123.

Movement of the guard structure to the position shown in FIGURE 38changes the shaving geometry characteristics as indicated by thecorresponding primed reference numerals and has a significant effect onthe comfort and/ or shaving efficiency of this razor construction.

In a particular embodiment the blade guard 74 is permitted verticalmovement of approximately 0.025". In the minimum tangent angle position(a blade tangent angle of 22) the blade span is 0.055" and bladeexposure is 0.001". In the maximum tangent angle position (a tangentangle of 38) a span of 0.090", and an exposure of 0.009" are provided.

A second embodiment of a ribbon blade magazine constructed in accordancewith the invention is shown in FIGURE 4. In this embodiment the entirecover portion 16' is permitted to move relative to the base member 14'.The basic blade handling structure is similar to the magazine structureshown in FIGURE 1. Supplemental locking tabs 150 extend laterally fromguide studs 152 which project through apertures 154 in the base member14' and latch on the back of the base member with vertical walls 156 ofapertures 154 providing guide surfaces which cooperate with studs 152 toprovide vertical guidance. Additional vertical guidance is provided byrecessed wall portions 160 of base 14' which cooperate with tabs 162 oncover 16 (FIGURE 5). As the cover is movable relative to the back, theteeth 170 of the counting mechanism are formed on the wall of take upchamber 172 and cooperate with the teeth 96 of indicator disc 92'.Further the base includes a rigid forwardly projecting step 188 whichengages the latch mechanism 112 in the holder to secure the magazinefirmly in shaving position in the holder. A rear view of the cover andthe adjusting member 82 is shown in FIGURE 5. Member 82 has a stud 31and a slot 84. Slot 84 engages stub 72' and movement of member 82 causesvertical movement of cover 16" relative to the base 14 to provide anadjustment of the shaving eonietry in a manner similar to that providedin the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. A seetional view of this magazinein assembled condition is shown in FIGURE 6.

Still another magazine construction is shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8. Theconfiguration of the base 14 and the cover 16" are similar to thestructure shown in FIG- URE 4. In this embodiment the adjustingmechanism is a disc 200 that is mounted coaxially with supply chamberwall 24" for location as determined by circular surface 262. Stud 204 islocated eccentrically with respect to surface 202 and is received inguide slot 206 (that is elongated in the horizontal direction asindicated in FIGURE 7) in cover 16". Rotation of disc 200 producesrelative movement between back 14" and cover 16" so that the position ofguard bar 74" relative to the edge of blade 26 is adjusted. It will benoted that back member 14" includes an inclined surface 210 immediatelybelow the shaving platform 28 and cover member 16" has a cooperatinginclined surface which mates with surface 210, so that guard bar 74 issubjected to a horizontal component of movement as well as a verticalcomponent of movement in response to rotation of disc 200. This featureof compound movement may be incorporated in other embodiments.

A number of other motion producing mechanisms may be utilized in thepractice of the invention. For example, there is shown in FIGURES 9 and10 an arrangement which employs an adjusting disc 2-20 which is mountedfor rotation coaxially with take up arbor 32. Disc 220 includes a spiralgroove 222 formed in its inner face and a pin 224, formed integrallywith cover 16", is received in groove 222. Thus rotation of disc 220produces vertical movement of cover 16" relative to base 14". In FIGURES11 and 12 are shown a cam structure 230, 23%, respectively, secured forrotation about the axis defined by shafts 232, 232 (which is fixed tocover 16) and adapted to engage cam surfaces 234, 234 formed in base 14.In FIGURE 11 cam 230 is rotated by means of lever 236 while in FIGURE 12a spur gear 238 is mounted on shaft 232' and is driven by a rack gear240 which is operated by the projection 242 that is secured for movementon the wall of the magazine cover 16. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 13employs a spiral gear 250 mounted for rotation in a side wall of thecover member of the magazine. The teeth of gear 250 cooperate with gearteeth 252 formed between the supply chamber and the take up chamber onthe back member of the magazine.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a compact, reliableband blade cartridge or magazine structure which permits adjustment ofshaving geometry over a wide range of values in coordinated relation andwith ease and precision. While several embodiments of the invention havebeen shown and described, still further forms thereof will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Therefore it is not intended that theinvention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or to details thereofand departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in a safety razor, a magazine member adapted to be receivedin a holder member, said magazine member adapted to store a ribbon-likeblade of uniform width having a longitudinally extending rear edge and aparallel sharpened front edge,

said magazine member comprising structure defining a blade supplyposition, a blade take up position, and a blade path extending betweensaid supply position and said take up position, said structure definingsaid blade path including a blade support platform which defines ashaving zone for receiving a shaving length of blade in supportingposition with the sharpened edge of the blade projecting beyond thefront edge of said support platform,

said support platform structure including a guide surface,

a blade guard structure extending in generally parallel spaced relationto the front edge of said blade support platform,

said blade guard structure including a guide surface engaging saidplatform guide surface for guiding relative movement between said guardstructure and said support platform in a direction perpendicular to saidblade support platform for adjusting shaving geometry of the safetyrazor,

structure for stabilizing the position of said guard structure relativeto said platform structure to provide a set shaving geometryconfiguration during a shaving operation,

and take up mechanism coupled to said take up position for advancing ablade stored in said magazine member to position a sequence of shavingportions of said blade on said blade support platform.

2. The magazine member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes a manually adjustable member for moving said bladeguard structure relative to said blade support platform.

3. The magazine member as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes a series of spaced latching surfaces and acooperating latching surface, at least one of said latching surfacesbeing carried by said manually adjustable member.

4. The magazine member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade supplyposition defining structure and said support platform structure areformed in a base member which includes a wiping surface extendingperpendicular to said support platform and further including a coverstructure disposed over said blade supply position defining structure,said cover structure including a cooperative guide surface which engagessaid wiping surface of said base to provide a barrier between said bladesupply position and said support platform.

5. The magazine member as claimed in claim 1, further including a coverstructure disposed over said blade supply position defining structure,and wherein said blade guard structure is a member movable relative toportion of said cover structure and said blade guard member includes aguide surface engaging a surface of said portion of said cover structurefor guiding said relative movement of said guard structure and saidsupport platform.

6. The magazine member as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes a manually adjustable member for moving said bladeguard structure relative to said blade support platform.

7. The magazine member as claimed in claim 6 wherein said blade guardstructure includes a cam surface, said manually adjustable member ismounted for rotational movement about an axis fixed with respect to saidblade support platform and includes a cam surface engaging said camsurface of said blade guard structure.

8. The magazine member as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes a series of spaced latching surfaces and acooperating latching surface, at least one of said latching surfacesbeing carried by said manually adjustable member.

9. The magazine member as claimed in claim 4 wherein said blade guardstructure is integral with said cover member and said cover and basemembers include interen'gaging guide surfaces for guiding said relativemovement of said guard structure and said blade support platform.

19. The magazine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the structure includingsaid blade support platform is adapted to be fixed relative to saidholder member when received therein and said platform structure guidesurface extends generally perpendicular to said platform.

11. The magazine member as claimed in claim 10 wherein said blade supplyposition defining structure and said support platform structure areformed in a base member which includes a wiping surface extendingperpendicular to said support platform and further including a coverstructure disposed over said blade supply position defining structure,said cover structure including a cooperative guide surface which engagessaid wiping surface of said base to provide a barrier between said bladesupply position and said support platform.

12. The magazine member as claimed in claim 11 wherein said stabilizingstructure includes a manually adjustable member for moving said bladeguard structure relative to said blade support platform.

13. The magazine member as claimed in claim 12 wherein said blade guardstructure is a member movable relative to portion of said coverstructure and said blade guard member includes a guide surface engaginga surface of said portion of said cover structure for guiding saidrelative movement of said guard structure and said support platform' 14.The magazine member as claimed in claim 12 wherein said blade guardstructure is integral with said cover member and said cover and basemembers include interengaging guide surfaces for guiding said relativemovement of said guard structure and said blade support platform. r

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,128,551 4/1964 Crown 30-633,203,093 8/1965 Kuhnl 30-63 3,262,198 7/1966 Nissen 30-4011 MILTON S.MEHR, Primary Examiner.

